I found the last coin to complete my type set Summer FUN - a 1796 half dollar
BillJones
Posts: 34,843 ✭✭✭✭✭
I’ve been within one coin of completing my U.S. type set for a couple of years. At the recent Summer FUN show I found that coin, a 1796 half dollar. I had hoped to fill this slot with a VF coin that would match my 1796 Quarter, but after talking with a couple dealers, I decided that this piece was a good “bird in the hand.” A well-known collector oriented dealer, who had no financial interest in the deal, told me that this coin would be good trade bait in the future if a VF graded piece, that I really liked, ever came along.
One of the members here asked me to post pictures so here they are.
The Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar is “the holy grail” of non-gold type coin collecting. It is by far the rarest of all U.S. type coins with a total mintage of only 3,918 pieces. According to David Bowers the total surviving population ranges between 225 and 325 pieces. Among those survivals many of those coins are damaged or a have suffered numismatic abuse and can only qualify for “genuine” holders. This piece is PCGS Fine-15, and some people who have seen it call it a “Fine-18.”
This is the 1796, 16 star variety, which Al Overton listed as O-102 in his die variety book. It is rated as an R-6 (13 to 30 known). Overall Mr. Overton believed that the mint only produced 365 examples of this coin. The 16th star was added in honor of Tennessee, which became the 16th state to enter the union.
The Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar is unusual in that it is the only coin with this design that had some hint of its face value on either the obverse or reverse of the coin. There is a small “1/2” below the wreath on the reverse. Perhaps mint officials were concerned that citizens would confuse this coin with the quarter, which was introduced in 1796. Like the early dollars, this half dollar has a lettered edge. It reads “FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR.”
Completing a major collection is always a thrill, and I’ve been at this at one level or another for over 40 years. Years ago I never would have dreamed that I would complete it, but when you work on something one coin at time, and hold on to what you are purchasing, sometimes persistence pays off.
One of the members here asked me to post pictures so here they are.
The Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar is “the holy grail” of non-gold type coin collecting. It is by far the rarest of all U.S. type coins with a total mintage of only 3,918 pieces. According to David Bowers the total surviving population ranges between 225 and 325 pieces. Among those survivals many of those coins are damaged or a have suffered numismatic abuse and can only qualify for “genuine” holders. This piece is PCGS Fine-15, and some people who have seen it call it a “Fine-18.”
This is the 1796, 16 star variety, which Al Overton listed as O-102 in his die variety book. It is rated as an R-6 (13 to 30 known). Overall Mr. Overton believed that the mint only produced 365 examples of this coin. The 16th star was added in honor of Tennessee, which became the 16th state to enter the union.
The Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar is unusual in that it is the only coin with this design that had some hint of its face value on either the obverse or reverse of the coin. There is a small “1/2” below the wreath on the reverse. Perhaps mint officials were concerned that citizens would confuse this coin with the quarter, which was introduced in 1796. Like the early dollars, this half dollar has a lettered edge. It reads “FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR.”
Completing a major collection is always a thrill, and I’ve been at this at one level or another for over 40 years. Years ago I never would have dreamed that I would complete it, but when you work on something one coin at time, and hold on to what you are purchasing, sometimes persistence pays off.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
JH
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
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I would love to see it!
It is always nice just see a picture of one of those half dollars.
1853 arrows/rays quarter and half?
1838 no stars half dime and dime?
type 1 3c silver?
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
I would say it's more like having a bald eagle in the hand! Pun intended.
And thanks for posting the pictures AND the information on this elusive coin.
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Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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<< <i>Bill, major cograt's on QUITE a major major accomplishment. Amazing!!!!!...........I gotta ask, what was the second to last coin for the set? MJ >>
It took me a while to remember what the next last type coin was that I did not already own in some form ... and here is it is !!!!!!
I guess the last big one that came before the 1796 half dollar was this 1795 half cent. I have a very nice 1797 (one over one) half cent, but it would not cross over from ANACS so I bought this one raw with the proviso that it would grade, which I knew it would. It is a C-1, lettered edge piece that is certainly in the top 20 for grade (including all the EAC raw coins) and maybe at the bottom of the list for the top ten. It is a PCGS AU-58.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>I dont think you are finished with your type set, I think there are a few coins that you still dont have.
1853 arrows/rays quarter and half?
1838 no stars half dime and dime?
type 1 3c silver? >>
I have all of those types.
I won't post the pictures of all of them, but here is the Arrows and Rays half dollar.
And the No Stars dime, which was also issued in 1837.
<< <i>Said good-bye to a lot of green paper for that one but the one I carry in my pocket is nicer. (do I even have to say I'm messin with ya?) Many said the show was a dud...looks like it treated you ok. Very Nice Coin. >>
I looked and looked the first day, and didn't buy anything. The only thing I saw that interested me was an 1876 set of wooden medals from the Philadelphia Centennial Fair in the original box. But then I decided, what am I going to do with that?
I knew about this piece but was mulling it over because I really wanted a VF-25 or 30 for this type which would match my 1796 quarter. Then the second day I talked to some people about this piece; bought something in the auction; and located a dealer I didn’t know was there who had 1917 McKinley gold dollar for me. I also found a 1881 nice Yorktown medal. So the show turned out okay for me.
We really do have a collecting fraternity here and ATS.
It must be nice to be retired!
One of the major U.S. Numismatic Rarities - and not that easy to locate in any condition.
I have always found that when you "settle" for a grade lower than what you've been
looking for, the "correct" grade usually surfaces soon thereafter.
My guess would be - you'll locate a very choice VF at the ANA in Boston.
Congratulations on the 1796 Half - regardless of the grade - I find it to be a beautiful
coin and I'd be thrilled to have it in my Type Set.
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Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
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I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Remember what came across the counter for coin dealers in the late 18 and early 1900's; lots of 96 quarters and no sm eagle halves. Congrat's!
K
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Tom
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
AB
congratulations Bill ... one heck of a coin, and one heck of an accomplishment!!
Cheers to you!!!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
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Great coin...great story.
I'm impressed.
hrh
Nice looking coin, Bill!!
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"America suffers today from too much pluribus and not enough unum.".....Arthur Schlesinger Jr.